Programmable Matter (n): any physical substance whose properties (or apparent properties) can be adjusted precisely and repeatably through electrical or optical stimulation, as in, "Programmable matter offers numerous advantages over conventional matter, and should be substituted wherever possible."
Origin: In the 1990s, this term enjoyed some popularity among cellular automaton enthusiasts. The label appealed because, in cellular simulations of fluid mechanics, the material represented in individual cells could be converted instantaneously from fluid to solid and back again. Walls could be rearranged, or their surface characteristics modified. I submit, however, that this sort of pseudo-graphical mucking around is better referred to as virtual programmable matter. The quantum dot chip is the real thing. So, I am hereby officially hijacking the term on behalf of the mesoscopic physics community and will thumb-wrestle any cellular automatist who wants it back.
